Energy-efficient homes and buildings for Canadians.

Today the Honourable Jim Carr, Minister of Natural Resources, announced a $182-million investment into developing healthier, energy-efficient homes and buildings for Canadians.

The funding, which is part of the Green Infrastructure Fund, will support:

research, development and demonstration of solutions supporting the adoption of high-efficiency building codes;

a program to help industry find and test cost-effective, technical solutions for high-performance buildings;

the development of new energy standards for new and existing homes and buildings; and

the expansion of energy-labelling programs to provide Canadians with better information on energy use in their businesses and homes, empowering them to make smart choices on energy use.

Buildings and homes contribute approximately 17 percent of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions. The Government of Canada is working with provinces, territories and industry on energy code development, data sharing, research and development, and market transformation strategies for the building sector. This initiative builds on the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change (PCF) and Canada’s Buildings Strategy, developed in partnership with the provinces and territories and through broad consultations with Canadians, key experts and industry stakeholders. Over one-third of estimated greenhouse gas emissions reductions in the PCF are from energy efficiency measures.

Of the investment, $48.4 million will fund research, development and demonstration of energy-efficient buildings. We are looking for innovative partners as our Government develops and puts in place new building codes to improve energy efficiency in Canada. Proposals are now being accepted for research, development and demonstration projects.